Johnson interviewing with Mississippi State

After being demoted from offensive coordinator to co-offensive coordinator to quarterbacks coach, Brian Johnson is looking to revive his coaching career with a longtime mentor.

Sources have confirmed that Johnson is interviewing with Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, who recruited Johnson to Utah and has remained one of Johnson's close confidants.

Johnson, Utah's winningest quarterback in history with a 26-7 record, became the youngest offensive coordinator in the Football Bowl Subdivision when coach Kyle Whittingham appointed the then 24-year-old to the position in 2011.

However, Johnson's time as a coach hasn't gone smoothly as Utah's offense has failed to be the dynamic force Whittingham envisioned.

p class="TEXT_w_Indent"> Johnson served as the co-offensive coordinator last season along with Dennis Erickson, then was demoted to quarterbacks coach when Whittingham hired Dave Christensen as Utah's new coordinator in December.

Mississippi State has an opening since offensive coordinator Les Koenning left to join Charlie Strong's staff at Texas.

Mullen is 36-28 since he was hired as Mississippi State's coach in December of 2008.

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